Toyota Posts Better-Than-Average Sales Despite Industry Hurdles

Escalating gas prices continue to hamper auto sales, making hesitant consumers skip new car dealerships. According to the recent Associated Press report, the month of July was not particularly good for any auto maker doing business in U.S. Among the biggest losers was Ford, taking a 19.1 percent dip when compared to the previous year.

Losing 11.8 percent of sales this July Toyota's numbers were disappointing as well, but not as bad as Ford's. Thanks to heavily incentivezed deals, Toyota truck sales remained unchanged. Toyota's last year's record setting performance is history. That said, it continues to outsell Ford (among others) due to its unmatched lineup of fuel efficient hatches and sedans, like the Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, Camry, and of course the funky and hip Scion .

Conversely, all Ford has to offer to the green-minded car shoppers in the United States is its European-conceived Focus. The new redesigned 2008 Focus should be out at the end of this year, though I very much doubt that it alone will pull the car maker out of the slums. Perhaps, things will turn around for good old Ford when a decision is made to bring over more of its gas-sipping European cousins like Ka and Fiesta.

Here is more of my rage about American automakers' lack of market flexibility

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